What makes a martial artist? 🥋

What makes a martial artist?

After nearly 25 years of training, my understanding of this question has changed.

In the beginning, I believed discipline, dedication, and grit were all it took to be a warrior. I knew martial artists needed other obvious attributes like strength, skill, and speed—but I didn’t have them yet. What I did have was the belief that if I stayed the course, I could attain them. And that’s why those first three qualities served me well—they kept me moving forward long enough to grow into everything else.

But walking this path has drawn more out of me than I ever expected.

It has challenged me, reshaped me, and deepened my understanding of what it truly means to embody this art—not just in combat, but in how I move through the world. I’ve come to see that being a martial artist isn’t just about the body—it’s about the mind, the spirit, and the way we engage with the forces around us. It’s about learning to move with—not against—the rhythms of change, to listen as much as we act, and to cultivate a presence that is both grounded and fluid.

And I’m not the only one who sees it this way.

According to my instructor, Guro Dan Inosanto, there are eight key attributes, also known as the "8 S's", that shape a well-rounded martial artist:

1. Structure – The foundation that supports all movement

2. Strength – Both physical and internal

3. Stamina – The endurance to sustain effort over time

4. Skill – Refinement and mastery of movement

5. Strategy – Tactical thinking and mental agility

6. Speed – The ability to react and move with quickness and precision

7. Spirit – Inner fire, willpower, passion, and purpose

8. Suppleness – Fluidity and the ability to move with ease

These timeless attributes have guided generations of martial artists, shaping not just their techniques but their mind, body, and spirit.

But I believe something is missing.

That’s why I’m adding one more attribute: Sensitivity.

Sensitivity isn’t weakness—it’s awareness. It’s the ability to feel, perceive, and respond with precision. It’s what allows a martial artist to read an opponent before they strike, move in harmony with a training partner, and sense the unseen forces at play in combat and in life.

Without Sensitivity, we’re just reacting. With it, we move with presence, intention, and connection.

In tomorrow’s Decolonization Dojo, we’ll explore how these attributes extend beyond the physical—how they show up in our daily lives and how they can support us on our decolonization journey.

Because we’re not just here to inherit these attributes; we’re here to reimagine, expand, and reclaim what it means to be a warrior today.

How has your understanding of what it means to be a warrior evolved over time?

🙏🏽⚔️🥋,

Guro Kristen

P.S. Chrysalis Kali online membership is currently closed, but doors will reopen this spring—along with something new I’ve never offered before. I can’t wait to share it with you.

If you’re ready to start your training now, Warrior Rising—my 8-week, self-guided program with unlimited access—will give you a strong foundation in Kali and an introduction to the topics we dive into in the membership.